20 crimes, tragedies that shook Arizona in 2010

20 CASES THAT SHOOK STATE

The most-viewed crimes and tragedies on azcentral in 2010.

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20. Family killings

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said Gilbert Ramos shot his wife and killed their children Sept. 21 as they lay in their beds before turning the gun on himself. Family members found the bodies inside a home after attempting to reach the Ramoses for two days. Authorities said they think brewing financial troubles may have been behind the attack

Credit: David Livingston/Getty Images

19. Deputy shootout

In a case that would stir debate, Pinal County sheriff's Deputy Louie Puroll (left) was wounded during an apparent firefight with drug smugglers April 30. He broke nearly six months of silence Oct. 7to lash out against those who speculated he shot himself to enflame Arizona's immigration debate. Throughout the investigation, Sheriff Paul Babeu supported his deputy, saying his story was consistent with evidence collected at the scene.

Credit: Associated Press

18. Dad, son deaths

On May 7, Conrad Hernandez placed an emergency call and told the dispatcher he had been in a car wreck and could not move. Both would die. In a September DPS report, investigators said they died upon impact after the father drove their car off a cliff near Sunset Point. Officers could find no evidence that he tried to apply the brakes.

Credit: Department of Public Safety

17. Bus crash

The company that owns a tour bus that rolled over June 18 on Interstate 10, killing six people, had a history of safety violations, no federal record of insurance and could not legally carry passengers in Arizona, officials said. On June 23, the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed fines totaling $72,760 78 violations of 13 motor-carrier safety regulations.

Credit: David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

16. Toddlers killed

Scottsdale police said Andre Leteve, 39, used a revolver on March 31 to kill his two toddlers inside his home (shown in a photo taken from video). Leteve turned the gun on himself - a gunshot wound to the face - then called police to report the shooting. He was indicted in April on two counts of first-degree murder.

Credit: 12 News

15. Slain ASU student

Zachary Marco, a straight-A political-science major who had tutored about 50 students, was killed Oct. 17 as he was walking home from the ASU library on a fairly well-lit street outside the University Park Apartments.Tips led to the recovery of Marco's laptop computer and bag, prompting the November arrests of two Tempe residents on suspicion of first-degree murder and armed robbery, police said. A third suspect, who is suspected of driving the getaway car, was also arrested.

Credit: Family photo

14. Vandalism and nudity

A Mesa woman greeted police officers in the nude and holding a beer July 11 after allegedly vandalizing her boyfriend's car with a dog leash. Police reported Chandra Reed, 23, appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was "belligerent" to officers. Officers attempted to place Reed in handcuffs, but before they could she allegedly threw her head back and struck an officer in the chest, causing him to stumble.

Credit: Mesa Police Department

13. Firebird tragedy

Susan Zimmer, 52, a spectator at Firebird International Raceway, was killed Feb. 21 when a wheel came off Antron Brown's Top Fuel car. Video of the race shows driver Antron Brown's dragster spinning out of control and a tire flying off the dragster. His car flipped on its side and hit a retaining wall before catching fire.

Credit: The Arizona Republic

12. Deadly drug bust

Chandler Detective Carlos Ledesma was killed while posing as a drug dealer and two other officer were wounded in a Phoenix house July 28. On Oct. 20, the state announced is seeking the death penalty against Doarnell Ruena Jackson, 36, and Eldridge Gittens, 34, in what prosecutors describe as the "coldblooded" murder of Ledesma, 34, during an undercover reverse sting. The wounded officers have since recovered.

Credit: The Arizona Republic

11. Party, then death

Ethan Mills, the 19-year-old whose final wish was to have a big "phat" going-away party after his terminal cancer returned, died June 9. On May 22, more than 400 people from dozens of communities gathered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Tempe to celebrate his life and say goodbye to Mills.

Credit: Family photo

10. Woman found dead

Tanya Morris, a Flagstaff woman who had been reported missing, was found dead March 10. Two days earlier, her dog and some of her clothing were found 1 1/2 miles from vehicle, which was parked off Interstate 17 at the overlook south of Munds Park. She had phoned a friend March 8, saying she was going to walk the dog.

Credit: Yavapai County Sheriff's Office

9. Sex scandal

Susan Brock, wife of Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock,was arrested Oct. 26 on suspicion of child molestation and sexual relations with a minor after police said the friends of a 17-year-old boy found messages on his phone indicating a relationship between herself and the teen. On Nov. 14, Brock, 48, entered a plea of not guilty to child molestation and other charges. Her husband has filed for divorce.

Credit: Chandler Police Department

8. Inmates captured

John McCluskey was one of three inmates who escaped July 30 from the state prison in Kingman. On Aug. 19, he was the last of the trio to be captured, along with Casslyn Welch, suspected of being their accomplice. A Mohave County judge set a Feb. 15 trial date for John McCluskey, who is charged with felony escape, kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated assault. McCluskey, Welch and Tracy Province also face capital-murder and carjacking charges in New Mexico stemming from the deaths of an Oklahoma couple.
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Credit: Associated Press

7. Teacher sex case

Andrea Martinez, 26, a teacher in the Stanfield Elementary School District, was arrested June 30 after authorities apparently witnessed her having sex with a 14-year-old former student, according to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. She was taken into custody on suspicion of child molestation and sexual contact with a minor.

Credit: Pinal County Sheriff's Office

6. Dragged to death

In May, Kyleigh Sousa was dragged to death during a purse-snatching incident outside an International House of Pancakes in Tempe. In December, Tempe police, aided by a photo from a speed-enforcement camera, arrested Jose Luis Marquez, 20, on first-degree murder.

Credit: Tempe Police Department

5. Toddler found dead

Two-year-old Emmett Trapp, still in the diapers and dinosaur-print pajama top he was wearing when he disappeared, was found dead by rescue teams Aug. 4 on an old mine-tailing pit outside Dewey-Humboldt. Emmett slipped out of the family home 40 hours earlier while his mother and siblings were napping, then followed a 3-mile course through desert washes and thick brush. He apparently died of exposure, police said.

Credit: Yavapai County Sheriff's OFfice

4. Officer slain

Gilbert police Lt. Eric Shuhandler in the face during a Jan. 28 traffic stop near Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive. The accused gunman, Christopher Redondo is charged with first-degree murder, four counts of drive-by shooting and 19 counts of aggravated assault. He is expected to undergo a psychological examination to determine whether he's competent to stand trial, tentatively set for June. Daimen Irizarry, the getaway driver who led police on a 50-mile chase after the shooting, appealed his 107-year prison sentence on Nov. 7

Credit: The Arizona Republic

3. Officer killed

Phoenix police Officer Travis Murphy (shown in portrait) was investigating reports of a suspicious person near Indian School Road and 19th Avenue when he was killed May 26. Police arrested Danny Ledezma Martinez, who was indicted on 11 counts, including first-degree murder, resisting arrest, burglary, misconduct with a weapon and disorderly conduct. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty.

Credit: The Arizona Republic

2. Motorcyle crash

Eight motorcycles carrying at least nine people were stopped at a stop light in north Phoenix on March 25 when a large truck hit them from behind, police said. Four motorcyclists were killed and others were injured. Michael Jakscht, 46, of Scottsdale, the dump-truck driver in the crash, is awaiting trial on four counts of manslaughter, five counts of aggravated assault and seven counts of endangerment.

Credit: Deirdre Hamill/The Arizona Republic

1. Chandler beheading

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is one of the agencies looking for three men who came to Chandler on Oct. 6 and are suspected in the stabbing and beheading of a fourth man on Oct. 10 who accompanied them from Perris, Calif. Police have arrested one suspect, Crisantos Moroyoqui (center), 36. Two other suspects still being sought are Juan Campos Morales Aguilar (left) and Jose David Castro Reyes. They are believed to be back in Mexico and the target of an international manhunt.